Louisiana HB 503: HIGHWAYS: Authorizes utility terrain vehicles to travel on the shoulder of certain roadways in Golden Meadow

Bill Text

ENROLLED
ACT No. 554
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 503
BY REPRESENTATIVE ORGERON
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 32:297.1(A)(1), (B), and (C) and to enact R.S. 32:297.1(A)(5),
3 relative to the use of utility terrain vehicles on roadways in Golden Meadow; to
4 authorize the use of utility terrain vehicles on the shoulders of public roads and
5 streets of Golden Meadow; to provide for definitions; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7 Notice of intention to introduce this Act has been published
8 as provided by Article III, Section 13 of the Constitution of
9 Louisiana.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 32:297.1(A)(1), (B), and (C) are hereby amended and reenacted and
12 R.S. 32:297.1(A)(5) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §297.1. Alternative pathways for golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed
14 vehicles; Golden Meadow
15 A. As used in this Section, the following terms shall have the following
16 meanings:
17 (1) "Golf cart" means an electric a four-wheeled vehicle originally intended
18 for use off-road on golf courses and other green spaces whose maximum speed is
19 twenty-five miles per hour.
20 * * *
21 (5)(a) "Utility terrain vehicle" means any recreational motor vehicle
22 designed for and capable of travel over designated roads, with a minimum width of
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HB NO. 503 ENROLLED
1 fifty inches but not exceeding seventy-four inches and a minimum weight of at least
2 seven hundred pounds but not exceeding three thousand five hundred pounds.
3 "Utility terrain vehicle" shall include those vehicles not equipped with a certification
4 label as required by 49 CFR Part 567.4. A "utility terrain vehicle" or "UTV" also
5 means a recreational off-highway vehicle or ROV.
6 (b) "Utility terrain vehicle" does not include golf carts, vehicles specially
7 designed to carry a disabled person, or vehicles otherwise registered under R.S.
8 32:299.
9 B.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the
10 governing authority of Golden Meadow may, in its discretion, by ordinance
11 authorize the operation of golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles
12 only on the shoulder of a public road and street, except for Louisiana Highway 3235,
13 having a speed limit of thirty miles or less per hour. The authorization shall be
14 contained in an ordinance and recorded in the minutes of the governing authority.
15 The authorization may be accompanied by conditions not inconsistent with this
16 Section and may be revoked, in whole, or in part, by the governing authority at any
17 time.
18 (2) Any person operating a golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed
19 vehicle on the shoulder of a public road or street in the town pursuant to this Section
20 shall be properly licensed to operate a vehicle upon any highway within this state and
21 shall have in his possession proof of insurance as required by Part I-A of Chapter 5
22 of this Title.
23 C.(1) Every golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, and low-speed vehicle operated
24 pursuant to this Section shall be required to be registered with the governing
25 authority. The owner of the golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed vehicle
26 shall be issued a registration decal by the governing authority that must be displayed
27 as determined by the governing authority. The registration shall remain valid for as
28 long as the registering owner owns the golf cart, utility terrain vehicle, or low-speed
29 vehicle.
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HB NO. 503 ENROLLED
1 (2) The governing authority may, by ordinance, establish a registration fee
2 for golf carts, utility terrain vehicles, and low-speed vehicles. The registration fee
3 shall be retained by the municipal clerk and deposited into the municipal general
4 fund.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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